Redskins Report: September 10

Which Rookie had his best practice as a Redskin? Who played the role of Reggie Bush in practice? Who knocked Chad Rinehart back on a blitz? All this and much more is right here.

...Tight end Chris Cooley sat out practice – the first time he's done so since arriving in 2004. Cooley has a sore quad, but will be ready Sunday for New Orleans.

...Linebacker Marcus Washington did not practice because of a sore hamstring, but he, too, is expected to play Sunday. Linebacker Khary Campbell, who has a bad thigh, is much more iffy.

...Defensive end Jason Taylor went down for a couple minutes and had his knee looked at, but he was up and around a bit later.

...Taylor said the reason why he alternates which hand he uses in his stance is so the opposition doesn't get used to how he's coming. Said he did that in Miami as well. We'll have to take his word for it, but he still looks uncomfortable. He also has a habit of bringing up his knee, yet saying he doesn't want to use it as an excuse. Well then don't talk about it.

...Former Redskin David Patten is making much more of an impact in New Orleans than he did in Washington. He's still got speed and with Marques Colston sidelined, he'll get more attention.

...Tight end Fred Davis had a good practice, his best with the Redskins, coach Jim Zorn said. But don't expect much more in terms of playing time just yet. We are guessing the tight e nds will have a bigger role in Sunday's game in terms of pass catching. They have to.

...Rookie Malcolm Kelly took part in more of practice, but he's still not certain for Sunday. But this time he would be inactive because he's just not ready to contribute. He says he is, but Zorn seems to disagree. Kelly is just now feeling good being able to go 100 percent.

...Jason Campbell was asked a lot about dealing with criticism. Thing about Campbell is that this stuff just rolls off him; he answers questions about what he's done wrong in the same tone as what he's done right. Clinton Portis interrupted Campbell's presser after a few minutes and chatted away, throwing his support behind the fourth-year QB.

The players know that it's not all Campbell's fault. Everything, from playcalling to line play, has been an issue. Campbell knows this as well, which helps him deal with any criticism thrown his way. He's also received text messages from other QBs, notably Mark Brunell, telling him to hang in there and that they know it will take him time in a new offense.

...Linebacker H.B. Blades knocked down a pass from Colt Brennan this afternoon. How low does your pass have to go to have Blades knock it down? There's a lot about Brennan that is intriguing but he really is far away. You see it in practice.

...Jon Jansen continues to work at guard; he continues to struggle at guard. It will take him time there for him. But we got the feeling he'll play some more at right tackle eventually. Just a hunch; or maybe it's the spaghetti.

John Keim covers the Redskins for the Washington Examiner and is a contributing editor for Warpathinsiders.com. He has covered the team since 1994. Some of his other stories can be found at dcexaminer.com

","mobileBody":"...Tight end Chris Cooley sat out practice – the first time he's done so since arriving in 2004. Cooley has a sore quad, but will be ready Sunday for New Orleans.

...Linebacker Marcus Washington did not practice because of a sore hamstring, but he, too, is expected to play Sunday. Linebacker Khary Campbell, who has a bad thigh, is much more iffy.

...Defensive end Jason Taylor went down for a couple minutes and had his knee looked at, but he was up and around a bit later.

...Taylor said the reason why he alternates which hand he uses in his stance is so the opposition doesn't get used to how he's coming. Said he did that in Miami as well. We'll have to take his word for it, but he still looks uncomfortable. He also has a habit of bringing up his knee, yet saying he doesn't want to use it as an excuse. Well then don't talk about it.

...Former Redskin David Patten is making much more of an impact in New Orleans than he did in Washington. He's still got speed and with Marques Colston sidelined, he'll get more attention.

...Tight end Fred Davis had a good practice, his best with the Redskins, coach Jim Zorn said. But don't expect much more in terms of playing time just yet. We are guessing the tight e nds will have a bigger role in Sunday's game in terms of pass catching. They have to.

...Rookie Malcolm Kelly took part in more of practice, but he's still not certain for Sunday. But this time he would be inactive because he's just not ready to contribute. He says he is, but Zorn seems to disagree. Kelly is just now feeling good being able to go 100 percent.

...Jason Campbell was asked a lot about dealing with criticism. Thing about Campbell is that this stuff just rolls off him; he answers questions about what he's done wrong in the same tone as what he's done right. Clinton Portis interrupted Campbell's presser after a few minutes and chatted away, throwing his support behind the fourth-year QB.

The players know that it's not all Campbell's fault. Everything, from playcalling to line play, has been an issue. Campbell knows this as well, which helps him deal with any criticism thrown his way. He's also received text messages from other QBs, notably Mark Brunell, telling him to hang in there and that they know it will take him time in a new offense.

...Linebacker H.B. Blades knocked down a pass from Colt Brennan this afternoon. How low does your pass have to go to have Blades knock it down? There's a lot about Brennan that is intriguing but he really is far away. You see it in practice.

...Jon Jansen continues to work at guard; he continues to struggle at guard. It will take him time there for him. But we got the feeling he'll play some more at right tackle eventually. Just a hunch; or maybe it's the spaghetti.

John Keim covers the Redskins for the Washington Examiner and is a contributing editor for Warpathinsiders.com. He has covered the team since 1994. Some of his other stories can be found at dcexaminer.com